Pak vs NZ: Mohammad Rizwan creates T20I record

Pakistan’s wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan created a T20I record for the Green Shirts as he became the leading six-hitter during the second T20I against New Zealand at Seddon Park, Hamilton on Sunday.

Rizwan, 31, has now hit 77 sixes for Pakistan in T20I, overtaking Mohammad Hafeez who is second on the list with 76 maximums.

Mohammad Rizwan — 77

Mohammad Hafeez — 76

Shahid Afridi — 73

Shoaib Malik — 69

Babar Azam — 55

Umar Akmal — 55

It must be noted that Pakistan is currently playing against New Zealand in the second T20I of the five-match series.

Rizwan started Pakistan’s chase of 195 runs brilliantly by hitting a six to Tim Southee but he was removed by Adam Milne in the second over for just seven runs.

By the time this story was filed, Pakistan was 48-2 in five overs with Babar Azam 22* and Fakhar Zaman 17* on the crease.

Earlier in the first innings, Finn Allen powered New Zealand to a 194-run total as the right-hander played a rapid innings of 74 runs on just 41 balls, courtesy of seven fours and five sixes.

Thanks to Allen’s brilliant start, the home side looked all set to score a big total but things started to fall apart as soon as he was removed by Usama Mir’s googly in the 13th over.

The home side was 137-2 in 13 overs when Allen walked back to the pavilion, but after his departure, they only managed to score 57 runs in the remaining seven overs.

Pakistani bowlers made an excellent comeback in the match and managed to restrict the in-form Kiwis to 194 runs, a total they can chase down.

Haris Rauf took three wickets in the 19th over and became Pakistan’s top wicket-taker of the match. All of the visitors’ bowlers, except skipper Shaheen Afridi, picked up wickets.

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Aamer Jamal, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi (c), Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears